Masonville Cove, once a recreational area for local citizens and most recently an abandoned and neglected section of shoreline along the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, will soon be a thriving natural area in Baltimore City once more!
When the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) created a new Dredged Material Containment Facility at the Masonville Marine Terminal, it designed its mitigation efforts to focus on not only the natural environment, but also the residents of the surrounding communities.
As part of the Baltimore Harbor Dredged Material Management Plan, MPA agreed to provide a package of community enhancements intended to initiate meaningful stewardship opportunities for neighborhood families to connect to the natural world.
At the heart of the project is the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center, designed to be a model for urban environmental education, as well as a catalyst for community involvement. The list of enhancements also includes a bird sanctuary, hiking trails, a fishing pier, and several tidal and non-tidal wetlands.
The Masonville Cove Project is a partnership between the National Aquarium, Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Environmental Service, The Living Classrooms Foundation, and the Brooklyn and Curtis Bay Coalition.
In 2011, the Aquarium Conservation Team (ACT!), along with local students and volunteers, planted 2,100 native shrubs along 2 acres of restored wetland at Masonville Marine Terminal.
These efforts will be part of the long-term mission to revitalize the Baltimore Harbor, and will help to create valuable aquatic habitat right here in Baltimore City! This fringe wetland will create foraging ground for fish species like striped bass and white perch, and will provide nesting habitat for shorebirds.
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